Mouthpiece for musical instruments.



H. E. 000K & E. P. BULLOCK. VMOUTHPIEGE FOR MUSICIAL'INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.18, 1911.

995,663. Patented June 20, 1911.-

THE NORRIS PETERS ca., WASHINGTON, n4 1:

UNITED STATES FATE HENRY E. COOK AND EDWIN P. BULLOCK, OF BOZEMAN,-MO1\TTANA.

MOUTHPIECE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY E. C001: and EDWIN P. BULLooK, citizens of the United States, residing at Bozeman, in the county of Gallatin and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mouthpieces for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mouth-pieces for musical instruments and has for its object to provide a device of this character which is so constructed that the notes in the upper register may be easily reached and perfect tones obtained without tiring the muscles of the upper lip of the performer.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision ofamouthpiece having an adjustable lip flange arranged thereon whereby said flangemay be disposed for engagement by the lip of the performer to eliminate undue pressure thereon in the playing of the instrument.

A further object of the invent-ion is to provide an adjustable mouth-piece flange for the purpose specified which is securely held in its adjusted position, and one which may be readily arranged upon the common mouth-piece at an insignificant expense.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of' parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mouth piece for wind instruments having our improved adjustable flange arranged thereon; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the flange removed; and Fig. 5

is a similar view of the securing ring for holding the flange in its adjusted position.

The present invention has particular reference to devices of that character shown and described in Patent #972,823, issued to us October 18th, 1910, and embodies certain improvements whereby the utility and convenience of the device are materially increased. To this end .we provide the mouthpiece 5 upon the periphery of its cupped end 6, with a plurality of threads 7 This mouth-piece is of the ordinary form commonly used in connection with trombones,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 18, 1911.

Patented June 20, 1911.

Serial No. 609,396.

trumpets and other musical instruments and is provided upon its end with an annular flange 8 with which the lips of the player engage.

Our adjustable flange is illustrated in detail in Fig. 4 and comprises the annulus 9 which is interiorly threaded for engagement with the threads upon the periphery of the cup 6 of the mouth-piece. This annulus has formed thereon a flange 10 which extends less than half the distance therearound and is provided with a lateral extension or enlargement 11. The end of this enlargement and the end of the annular flange 8 on the cup 6 are disposed in the same plane when the annulus is threaded on the cup into close engagement with the flange 8 as shown in Fig. 1, said enlargement being disposed in the same plane as said flange.

The annulus 9 is rigidly locked or held upon the cupped end of the mouth-piece by means of a knurled ring 12 which is also threaded upon said cup. This annulus may be readily positioned upon the threaded portion of the cup 6 of the mouth-piece and the ring 12 turned until it engages therewith, whereby the enlargement 11 is positioned relative to the annular flange 8 on the end of the cup to dispose their end surfaces in different planes. Thus the pressure of the flange upon the lip of the performer will be regulated and the flange easily and quickly adjusted so as to make proper provision for lips of different thicknesses. The enlargement 11 will at all times retain the performers lips in position and prevent them from being accidentally disengaged therefrom while marching. The high notes may also be readily attained with the use of our device without placing undue strain upon the muscles of the upper lip. The effort exerted by the performer in an endeavor to attain the high notes of the scale often displaces the upper lip from the end of the mouth-piece and by providing the enlargement or extension 11 of the adjustable flange, a comparatively broad engaging surface for the upper lip is provided so that the lip is always retained in proper position on the mouthpiece, and the musician may perform with greater ease. With mouth-pieces of the common construction, considerable effort on the part of the performer is required to attain the higher notes.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have produced a device which is extremely T OFFICE. I V

simple may be easily and quickly adjusted upon the mouthpiece in accordance with the requirements of the individual, and can be produced at a minimum cost. The device is furthermore of great utility and convenience and by its use long continued practice upon the instrument may be resorted to without unduly exercising the lip muscles.

While we have shown and described the preferred construction of our device it will be understood that the invention is suscepti ble of considerable modification without de parting from the essential feature or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is A mouth-piece for musical wind instruments having a cupped end provided with peripheral screw threads and an annular flange formed on said cup, an annulus flange on the annulus being of increased 25 thickness throughout the entire length of the flange to provide a comparatively broad lip engaging surface, and a ring threaded on said cup to engage said annulus and retain the flange thereof in its adjusted position 30 relative to the stationary flange on the cup.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aiiix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY E. COOK. EDlVIN P. BULLOCK.

lVitnessos W. B. BURKET, CHAS. S. HARTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

